Time-fuse for projectiles.



. H. MAXIM. TIME FUSE FOR PROJEGTILES.

APPLICATION P ILED SEPT. 27,1905.

Patented NW1?, 1908.

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Umm) STATES PATENT oracion.`

. HUDSON Mmm,4 or NEW'YORK, N. Y.

'rum-FUSE son PnoJEcTILEs.

No. 904,492.v

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Nov. 17, 1908.

Original application filed January 29, 1903 ,'Sexia1 No. 141,066. Divided and this application filed September 27,

1905. Serial No. 280,353.

To all whom it may concern: y

Be it known that I, HUDSON MAXIM, a resident of the borough of Brooklyn, city and State of New York, have inventeda new and useful Improvement in Time-Fuses for Projectiles, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification.M ,i

The-present invention relates to improvements in time fuses 'for projectiles, and especially those adapted for use in* shrapnel and field'shell.

The object of the invention is to provide a fuse which may be so set that the ignition of the bursting charge ofthe projectile may be timed to take place Withthe greatest possible degree of accuracy, while the fuse shall,

at the same time, consist of but few parts and those' simple of construction and ineX- pensive of manufacture. y

In my application Iiled January 29, 1903, Serial Number 141,066, for time fuses for projectiles, of which this is a division, I have described and claimed a time fuse in which the period of time during which an impervious body of self-combustible material confined in a casing burns 'is determined by increasing or decreasing the pressure of the escaping products of combustion upon thev surface of the coinbustive material and in illustration thereof Ihave described a fuse in which a body of self-combustive material like a colloidal smokeless powder compound is solidly incased in a tube or receptacle having vone or more apertures communicating with the bursting charge of the projectile, and other apertures for the escape of the products of combustion controlled by means of a spring-pressed valve, the tension of whose spring is increased or decreased to regulate the escape of gases during the flight of the projectile, and thereby regulating the pressure and duration of the combustion of the self-combustive material. The body of the self-combustive material is impervious to the flame of ignition so that the body is consumed with a definite-and uniform rate of combustion through its entire depth or length.

The present invention has for its object to provide a time fuse in Which-the self-conbbustive material will burn through any desired length with a uniform rateV of combus- .tion While the products of combustion,escapel at a uniform pressure, the time of ignition of the bursting charge being regulated by the distance through which the material will have to burn in order for the flame to reach the bursting charge'.

T o effect the above objects and secure the advantages of this invention, it is .essential that the self-'combustive material 'be impervious to the products of its own combustion, thereby enabling combustion to be conlined to the surfaceof the body and further that the products of combustion should be permitted to escape as formed so that the pressure on the burning surface be keptsuniform, thereby enabling the self-combustive material to burn at a uniform rate whereby such a body having uniform cross-section will burn through equallengths in equal times.

In carrying out the invention a .body of ofv smokeless powder material or other colquantity of black gun-powder incorporated therewith and impervious to the flame or in a tube or receptacle and sealed therein in such manner as to preclude the possibility of ame or the products of combustion passing between the body of self-combustive material and the walls of the containing tube or casing. The Walls of the tube or. casing are provided with holes and corresponding holes concentric therewith are "provided in the body of the self-combustive material, and are so arranged and spaced that the distance between the planes of successive holes, taken on thealine of the longitudinal axis of the projectile, is such as will be burned through while the projectile 'is traveling a predetermined distance, such for example as 500 yards. The length through which the self-combustive body burns. before .reaching any particular hole is regulated by opening or closing the desired number of holes in the tube or casing communicating with the p'oivder charge in the shell. The rate at which the selfcombustive material'burns is controlled by maintaining a uniform pressure on the burning surface which is eected by providing the tube or casing containing the combustive material with passages opening into the'atmosphere, and of such area as will permit the products of combustion .from

cape-at such rate as Will thereby maintain the desired uniform pressure.

Means are also provided for determining the adj ustmntef the tube or casing containloidal or agglutinating nraterial with a small p products of its own combustion, is incasedself-combustive material such as colloidal smokeless gun-powderjmaterial or a mixture the burning self-combustivematerial to es ing the self-combustive to secure the eXplosion of the shell after it has traveled the desired distance.

By a self-combustive material as herein drawings which are designed merely as illustrations to assist in the Vdescription of the invention.

Referring to thedrawings Figure l is a longitudinal central section of the fuse with adjacent parts of the projectile; F ig. 2 is a longitudinal view of the fuse, partly in elevation and partly in section; and F ig. 3 is a View, showinfr'the use of a stuiiing box in combination with the fuse tube or thimble and fuse casing.

In the form of fuse shown in Fig. l, the fuse tubeor casing E is provided with a screw-thread upon its outer surface, and is adapted to screw into the forward end of the projectile B, while on its inner surface is another screw-thread into which is screwed the thimble or fuse tube N. vThe rearward portion F of the thiinble N 'is made to [it closely to the inner surface of the casing E", and to form therewith a gas-tight joint. In the portion F of the thimble N is provided a body of self-coinbustive material G', which is sealed into the tube or thimble in such wise as to preclude thepossibility of 'iame or the products of combustion passing between the body of. self-combustive material and the walls of the tube or thimble.

Holes X are cut through the walls Qf the thimble and corresponding holes'M concentric therewith are. cut in the body of the self-combustive material. The holes X and M are cut in a direction which lies in a plane lying at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the 'pl-ojectile, and the distance between the plane of each hole is such, taken on the line of the longitudinal axis of the projectile, thatthe holes form a series having a distance between them, of say, about a sixteenth `of an inch, or such a distance as will be burned through, or be caused to be burned through, while the projectile is traveling through a distance of 500 yards. The holes are so arranged, however, with respect to one another, that each hole which lies nearest its neighbor with respect to a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the projectile shall be opposite or at as great a distance as possible apart in other directions.

By turning the thimble N, only one of the holes may i be caused to communicate with the powder chamber and powder charge l), while the openings to all the lother ,holes will le closed by the inner surface of the easing E. in `vhivh position the self-combustivie roiiipouiid will require to be burned eoaaea' through its whole length or depth before' communication can be established between its products of combustion and the powder charge D. If, however, the thimble N be screwed far in until all of the holes communicate with the powder chamber l), it is ob, vious that it will be necessary for combustion to proceed to a depth of onlyabout a sixteenth of an inch before access will be had by the ame through the forward hole justment enables the timing of the fuse to a verygreat nicety. Aspecial advantage of `the arrangement of the holes M already explained is that although the distance between them on a given plane may be very small, the actual distance separating the holes provides a thickness of material incapable of being disrupted or broken through by pressure of the products of combustion in the chamber H. j

Combustion of the self-combustive material G is started at the time of discharge of the projectile from the gun by igniting means, preferably of the form illustrated in Fig. l, which comprises a thimble having external screw-threads adapting it to be screwed into Ithe end of thimble N", and is provided with end closures having vent pas- U, R for escape lof the products of combustion, the size of which passages determines the rate of escape of the products of combustion of the self-combustive material G, and these are therefore made of suitable size to secure a uniform pressure in the chamber H diiringthe combustion of the body G.

Over the opening T is located the per cussion cap J which is exploded at the time of discharge ofthe gun by means of a striker' V. having a firing point K. and temporarily held in place by means of ashear- ,pin L which by reason of the inertia of the sion of means for maintaining a uniform pressure of the gases escaping through the tiring plug by Way ofpassages U', grooves S in striker V and openings R in the end of the thimble I.

Means are also provided consisting of a scale W whereby the time required for the consumption through the predetermined depth of the self-coinbustive material to the bursting charge of the projectile may be determined with great nicety.

To provide against the possibility of communication being established between the chamber H through any of the holes X to the powder chamber D, between the outer surfaces of the vtubes N andthe casing E', a stutiing boX may be provided, consisting of a iing Y and packing Z, whereby any such escape of gases may be obviated.

That is claimed is:

l. In a fuse for projectiles, the combination ofa fuse casing, avthim'ble or chamber longitudinally adjustable therein and having lateral perforationsvin its walls, a self-'combustive body'impervious. to the products of its own combustion in said thimble or cham'- bcr. means for igniting said self-combustive body, and' passages or vents permitting the escape of the products of combustion as.

formed. l

2. In a fuse for-projectiles-a casing having an imperforate wall, a container adjustably mounted therein and having a series of progressively arranged perforations, a sclf-combustive material impervious tothe products of its own combustion in said container, and means for adjusting said container to uncover any desired perforation to expose the bursting charge of the projec- Atile to ignition through said perforation.

3. In a fusefor projectiles, a casing havling an imperforate wall, a container adjustjably mounted therein, and having aser-ies vof perforations in its walls, a self-combustive material impervious tothe products of.

its own combustion in said container, means for. adjusting said container to uncover any desired perforation to expose the bursting charge of the projectile to ignition through tive body, and passages or vents permitting the escape of the products of combustion as formed.

5. In av fuse for projectiles, the combination of a thimble or chamber having perforatioiis at graduated distances in its Walls, means for adjusting said chamber longitudinally with relation to the firing charge of the shell, a self-combustive material imperviousto the products of its own combustion in said chamber, means for igniting said..material, and means for maintaining uniform gas pressure in said chamber when said conibustive material is ignited.'

6. In a fuse for projectiles in which a selfcombustive'material is interposed between the bursting charge and igniting means, the combination of a Ifuse casing, a container, a self combustive material therein provided 'with holes, one part of said container telecombination of a fuse casing, a container,a-

self-combustive material therein` provided with holes, said container being adjustably mounted in said casing and having sideopeningsV for registering with corresponding holes in the self-combustive material', and igniting means operative -on the discharge of the projectile to start surface combustion on' the end face of-the self-coiiibustive material. j

8. In a fuse for projectiles in which a. selfcombustive material is interposed between the bursting charge and igniting means, the combination of .a fuse casing, a self-combustive kcontainer mounted in said casing having side openings, means for imparting longitudinal movement to said container to expose the bursting charge through any desired opening to ignition by the self-combustive material in the container, and igniting means-to start surface combustion at one end only of the self-combustive material,

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HUDSN MAXIM.

-Witnesses IVALTER O'. (iiAHii M, Enw. D. Nnmiiotm. 

